Community remembers parents killed in murder-suicide

Dozens gather in memory of Michele and Dale Wetzelberger

A community comes together to remember their neighbors and friends they lost in what police call a murder-suicide.

"The question now is not how or why, but what can we do now to make something good out of something so tragic?" The Rev. Daniel Lee asked that question of the people at the memorial service.

Police say sometime Monday evening, Dale Wetzelberger shot his wife Michele.The next morning, investigators say Dale took their 4-year-old son to daycare at the YMCA in Travelers Rest where Michele worked. Shortly after, police say Dale went back home and shot himself. When Michele didn't show up for work and their son was never picked up, YMCA staff called police.

Thursday night, people came together at Reedy River Baptist Church to remember Dale and Michele. Organizers of the memorial services said remembering them both was the right thing to do.

Next-door neighbor Sean Johnson said so many questions remain, but he's sure that Dale and Michele loved their son.

"Michelle, she was a fantastic mom. Dale, he loved Gavin, too. He just finished building him a tree house in the backyard," he said.

Now, neighbors say they want to focus on helping the couple's son.

"It's a matter of just doing the right thing as a community coming together and embracing this child. He did not ask for this," neighbor Gil Bocanegra said.

The community is reportedly planning to set up a fund for the couple's son.

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